Prime Minister's XIII, sometimes informally referred to as the PM's XIII, are a representative rugby league team, comprising Australian players from National Rugby League clubs. Initially, the team was selected from NRL clubs that did not qualify for the NRL finals. Over time this changed to include players whose teams were knocked out during the first two weeks of the finals, with the game played on the same weekend as the preliminary finals, one week prior to the NRL Grand Final. Since 2024, the Prime Minister's XIII game has been played on the weekend after the NRL Grand Final, with players from all clubs, including the Grand Finalists, available for selection.
The Prime Minister's XIII first played against Papua New Guinea in 2005 at Lloyd Robson Oval in the Papua New Guinean capital, Port Moresby. The team was coached in that match by former QueenslandState of Origin coach Mal Meninga, who coached the side until 2012. New South WalesState of Origin coach Laurie Daley then took over from 2013 to 2014 with Ivan Cleary coaching the team in 2015. Meninga, appointed Australian test coach in 2016 also re-took the reins that year.
Originally played in Port Moresby, in recent years the games have been held in various locations around Papua New Guinea, including Lae and Kokopo. Unlike regular international matches, each team is allowed a five-man bench and given unlimited interchanges throughout the match.
Because the selected Australian players are not participating in the NRL finals (and are part of the Australian Test 'train-on' squad), the match is primarily used to keep potential international players match fit ahead of any end-of-season international fixtures. As the match has been played later in September, players who play for a team that has been knocked out in the first two weeks of the finals have been able to be selected for the side.
The match is also used to promote rugby league, as well as humanitarian causes such as HIV and AIDS awareness,[1] among the Papua New Guinean community.
The PM's XIII has never lost a match against Papua New Guinea since the annual fixture commenced, but was held to a 24–24 draw in 2007, after leading 20–0 at half time.
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Australian PM's XIII
